Shopping in the sales season – Odette Vella
The summer sales have started and many consumers view this as an opportunity to save money by snapping up bargains. Buying goods at a discounted price also gives consumers the impression of getting more value for their money. But the way discounts and offers are marketed may sometimes trigger impulsive buying. Reckless purchases can be avoided if consumers focus more on what they need rather than on the discounted price. Consumers should also avoid buying unfit products as such purchases also turn out to be a waste of money. What rights do consumers have when they shop during sales? And what should they look out for to really benefit from a good bargain? Consumers’ legal rights do not change or diminish during sales. Whether on sale or not, items sold to consumers must be as described and fit for their intended purpose. If an item purchased turns out to be defective, then regardless of the discounted price, consumers are entitled to claim a free remedy from the seller. The remedies consumers can claim include repair, replacement or refund. However, if the product purchased was marked down because of a fault, and this was pointed out to the consumer at the time of the sale, in...